A Report on Sustainable Development in Katon Karagay, Kazakhstan
Executive Summary
The Katon Karagay region in Eastern Kazakhstan, an area of significant natural beauty within the Altay mountains, is facing critical socio-economic challenges, primarily severe depopulation. In response, local authorities and community organizations are implementing a development strategy centered on sustainable tourism. This report analyzes these efforts through the lens of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), examining the balance between economic growth, social equity, and environmental preservation.
Addressing Depopulation Through SDG-Aligned Initiatives
The region has experienced a drastic population decline, from approximately 40,000 to 17,000 inhabitants, as residents migrate to urban centers seeking better opportunities. This trend threatens the viability of local communities, creating a development imperative.
Fostering SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
A primary driver of emigration is the lack of quality educational and health infrastructure. To counter this, the Social Fund for Sustainable Development of Rural Areas has initiated a project to improve local schools.
- Collaboration with the nation’s top-performing Nazarbayev Intellectual School to provide expertise and training.
- A three-year program to analyze school performance, retrain teachers, and update curricula.
- Initial results show a significant increase in student participation in national academic contests, from 3 pupils in 2019 to 200 in 2024.
This initiative directly targets SDG 4 (Quality Education) by enhancing educational outcomes and aims to address SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by closing the gap between rural and urban educational opportunities.
Pursuing SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
The regional economic strategy focuses on leveraging natural assets to create sustainable livelihoods. The government has identified tourism as a key pillar for development, alongside traditional industries.
- Tourism: Emphasis on environmental, ethno-cultural, and therapeutic tourism.
- Agriculture: Support for bee-keeping and the cultivation of wild herbs.
- Local Enterprise: Promotion of traditional crafts and social initiatives.
These efforts are designed to stimulate SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by creating local jobs and diversifying the rural economy.
Infrastructure Development and Environmental Stewardship
To facilitate tourism, significant infrastructure projects are underway, including a new road and a regional airport. These developments present both opportunities for economic growth and risks to the region’s fragile ecosystem.
Advancing SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
The construction of an airport and improved road access is intended to overcome the region’s isolation and stimulate the tourism sector. Governor Nurymbet Saktaganov of the East Kazakhstan Region has stated that the airport is “strategically important as it opens new horizons for tourism development,” with negotiations underway for new flight routes. This directly supports SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).
Balancing Development with SDG 15: Life on Land
The prospect of increased visitor access raises concerns about environmental degradation. The central challenge is to prevent mass tourism from harming the pristine nature of the Katon Karagay National Park, which is home to diverse wildlife, including moose, deer, and snow leopards. This highlights the critical need to protect SDG 15 (Life on Land).
Community-Led Models for Sustainable Tourism
Local communities are actively engaged in shaping the future of tourism, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and local benefit, reflecting the principles of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
Empowering Local Entrepreneurs
Through workshops and government grants, residents are being trained for the hospitality industry. Many have converted traditional homes into guesthouses and are selling local products, ensuring that economic benefits remain within the community.
Developing Models for Responsible Tourism
Local business owners are pioneering different approaches to sustainable tourism:
- High-Value, Low-Impact Tourism: Damir Kalikan’s traditional medicine spa, which uses deer antler extracts, plans to increase prices and improve luxury offerings rather than volume. He states, “We will earn the same but prevent mass tourism,” a model that prioritizes quality over quantity.
- Conscientious, Nature-Focused Tourism: Anatoly Slavitchev’s ‘Kat’n’Go’ project focuses on individual tours for urban visitors seeking tranquility. He advocates for controlling visitor numbers, arguing, “The only way for us here is sustainable tourism, focused on conscientious clients who are only interested in relaxing while respecting nature.”
Governance and Policy for Long-Term Sustainability
The regional government has affirmed its commitment to a sustainable development model that aligns with the concerns of the local population.
Commitment to Controlled Tourism and Environmental Protection
Governor Saktaganov has assured that the government’s approach is based on sustainable principles to protect the region’s unique ecosystem. Key policy measures include:
- Controlling visitor numbers in protected areas through a permit system.
- Educating tourists on environmental responsibility.
- Actively involving the local population in environmental protection efforts, fostering SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
- Developing a “green region” plan with goals for zero emissions and minimal waste, contributing to SDG 13 (Climate Action).
The stated goal is not mass tourism, but rather to “save the uniqueness of Katon and secure its attractiveness in the long run.” However, the visible presence of construction machinery clearing land for the new road underscores the ongoing tension between development goals and the preservation of the very nature that makes the region valuable.
SDGs Addressed in the Article
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SDG 4: Quality Education
The article highlights education as a primary factor in the region’s depopulation. It details a project initiated by a social fund to reverse this trend by improving the quality of local schools. This initiative involves securing expertise from the country’s best school to train teachers, enhance curricula, and analyze educational levels, directly addressing the goal of providing quality education to retain the population.
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SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
The core of the article focuses on developing the local economy of Katon Karagay through tourism. It discusses plans to promote “environmental, ethno-cultural, therapeutic kinds of tourism,” support local entrepreneurship, and revive old crafts. The efforts to train locals for the hospitality industry, enabling them to turn their homes into guesthouses and sell local products, are direct attempts to create decent work and foster sustainable economic growth.
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SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
A significant portion of the article is dedicated to the development of infrastructure to make the isolated region accessible. It explicitly mentions the construction of a new road and an airport, stating, “A new road is being built. And an airport that will save you those six hours of torment on the road from Ust Kamenogorsk.” This development is presented as strategically important for unlocking the region’s tourism potential.
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SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
The article’s central theme is the challenge of reversing significant depopulation in the rural Katon Karagay region, where the population has fallen from 40,000 to 17,000. The efforts to improve education, healthcare, and economic opportunities through sustainable tourism are aimed at making the community viable and preventing further migration to cities, thus addressing the goal of making human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
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SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
The debate between mass tourism and sustainable development is a key conflict discussed. The article mentions a plan to develop Katon Karagay into a “green region of Kazakhstan, the one which will have zero emissions and minimal waste.” Furthermore, the idea of targeting “conscientious clients” and potentially increasing prices for exclusive tourism to prevent environmental degradation reflects a focus on sustainable consumption and production patterns.
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SDG 15: Life on Land
The article expresses deep concern for the preservation of Katon Karagay’s pristine natural environment. It describes the region as a “piece of paradise on Earth” with unique ecosystems, forests, and wildlife, including “moose, wild goats, deer and snow leopards.” The fear that mass tourism could “spoil nature” and the governor’s assurance of controlling visits to protect the “fragile ecosystem of the Katon Karagay National Park” directly relate to protecting terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity.
Specific Targets Identified
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Target 4.1: Ensure quality primary and secondary education
The article describes a project “aimed at improving schools” by bringing in expertise from the “best school in the country” to “train teachers and make curricula.” This initiative is a direct effort to enhance the quality of education in the region to provide a better future for children and curb depopulation.
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Target 8.9: Promote sustainable tourism
This target is central to the article. The local government and social funds are actively working to “organise sustainable tourism that will not have an adverse effect on the nature.” They are developing “environmental, ethno-cultural, therapeutic kinds of tourism,” supporting local crafts, and training locals to join the hospitality industry, all of which are key components of promoting sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture.
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Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure
The article explicitly details the construction of critical infrastructure to connect the isolated region. The building of a new asphalt road and an airport, with the runway’s completion planned for the end of the year, directly aligns with the goal of developing quality and reliable infrastructure to support economic development and human well-being.
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Target 11.a: Support links between urban and rural areas
The entire initiative described in the article is an example of strengthening regional development planning to combat rural depopulation. By improving infrastructure, education, and creating economic opportunities in Katon Karagay, the project aims to reverse the flow of people to “bigger cities” and create a sustainable rural community, thereby strengthening the links and balance between rural and urban areas.
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Target 12.b: Monitor sustainable tourism impacts
The article discusses various methods for controlling and monitoring the impact of tourism. One tourism operator suggests “online ticket sales or permits for entry into the national park.” The governor confirms this approach, stating, “We intend to control the number of visits to the areas under special protection with the system of permits.” This reflects an effort to develop and implement tools to monitor the impacts of tourism.
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Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems
The article is replete with references to the need to protect the region’s natural assets, including “picturesque forests,” “pristine, even drinkable creeks and rivulets,” and “crystal-clear mountain lakes.” The central conflict is how to develop tourism while ensuring the conservation of this fragile mountain ecosystem, which is the essence of this target.
Indicators Mentioned or Implied
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Indicator for Education Quality (Target 4.1)
The article provides a direct, quantifiable indicator of progress in education: “in 2019 we had only three pupils participating in national contests, in 2024, there is 200.” This sharp increase serves as a clear metric for the success of the school improvement program.
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Indicator for Depopulation (Target 11.a)
The article uses population figures as a key indicator of the problem. It states the number of inhabitants “fell from almost 40,000 to 17,000.” Reversing this trend and stabilizing or increasing the population would be the primary indicator of success for the overall development project.
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Indicator for Economic Participation (Target 8.9)
An implied indicator is the number of local people engaged in the tourism economy. The article notes that “the locals have now turned many of their old traditional homes into guest houses” and “sell homemade food, honey and other products,” suggesting that the number of such micro-enterprises could be tracked to measure progress.
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Indicator for Infrastructure Development (Target 9.1)
The article points to a clear project-based indicator: “The completion of the runway and attached infrastructure is planned for the end of the year.” The completion of the new road would be another such indicator.
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Indicator for Tourism Management (Target 12.b)
The number of tourist visits is an implied indicator. The plan to “control the number of visits to the areas under special protection with the system of permits” shows that visitor numbers will be a key metric used for managing sustainability.
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Indicator for Environmental Impact (Target 15.1)
The article implies that the health and presence of local wildlife populations serve as an environmental indicator. The question, “Will there be any moose, wild goats, deer and snow leopards, or will they be scared away by the new resort…?” suggests that the continued presence of these species is a measure of ecological health.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
SDGs | Targets | Indicators (Mentioned or Implied in the Article) |
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SDG 4: Quality Education | 4.1: Ensure quality primary and secondary education. | The number of pupils participating in national contests, which rose from 3 in 2019 to 200 in 2024. |
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | 8.9: Promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture. | The number of local homes converted into guesthouses and yurts; sales of local products (honey, food) to tourists. |
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure | 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, and sustainable infrastructure. | The completion of the new airport runway and the new asphalt road. |
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | 11.a: Support positive links between urban and rural areas. | The change in the region’s population count (currently down from 40,000 to 17,000). |
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | 12.b: Monitor sustainable tourism impacts. | The number of tourist visits, to be controlled via a system of permits. |
SDG 15: Life on Land | 15.1: Ensure the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. | The continued presence and health of wildlife populations (moose, deer, snow leopards). |
Source: euronews.com